Prewrapped box



Sept. 1, 1942. w. H.,PERRY I 2,294,690

PREWRAPPED BOX Filed se a. 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l v INVENTOR Wi/liamH. Har y 8 j I r 6? 6402224 /0 7 20 W {I'TORNEY Sept. 1, 1942. w. H.PERRY PREWRAPPED BOX Filed Sept. 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Y,INVENTOR M /l im 1'7. P y BY Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES ATETPREWRAPPED BOX William H. Perry, Brookline, Mass.

Application September 1, 1938, Serial No. 227,903

2 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes, particularly boxes of the typeordinarily used in packing merchandise in retail stores.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a knockdown box whichis provided in its knockdown form with an outer wrapper attached sothat, when the box is assembled and packed with merchandise, it will beunnecessary to add to the box an outer wrapper of plain or fancy paperas is customary.

Another object of my invention is to provide a knockdown box which maybe shipped fiat and thus occupy but little room in transportation or instock, to which is afiixed an outer wrapper attached in such a way thatit will give the appearance, when the box is assembled, of a box whichhas had an outer wrap applied by hand.

Another object of my invention is to provide a box suitable for use instores, which will be so constructed that the nature of the operation ofassembling and closing the box will be apparent to the clerk by mereinspection, thus eliminating the necessity for detailed instruction.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple methodof constructing boxes of this type, so that the cost of distribution ofgoods may be correspondingly reduced.

These and other objects of my invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is aperspective of my box with the wrapper thereon, assembled and ready foruse.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the box and wrapper with one end closed andthe other end partly closed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the box and wrapper completely closed.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line l4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a broken-away section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing onemethod of constructing the inner box.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the box alone, show ing another method ofconstructing the box.

Fig. '7 is a perspective of the box assembled without the outer wrap inplace.

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the outer wrap assembled and ready to be slidinto position over the box.

Fig. 9 is a plan View of the box blank and wrapper blank securedtogether and ready for assembly as a unit.

Fig. 10 is a side View of the box blank and wrapper when assembled.

Fig. 11 is a perspective of the completed box and wrapper in knockdownposition.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2l2 of Fig. 11.

Upon referring to the drawings it will be observed that my unit iscomprised of an inner foundation box 2 about which is positioned anouter wrap 4 which may be of plain or decorative paper.

In Fig. 1 the completed box ready to be filled with merchandise isshown. The box proper shown in Fig. '7 consists of four sides, 6, 8, l0and I2, ordinarily made of a single sheet of material scored or creasedto facilitate bending, which are folded together in a rectangular form.It is intended, however, that my invention is applicable to all boxes ofthree or more sides, as the principle involved is common to all forms.

To the end of the box are attached end flaps I4 and I6 which may beeither integral with or separate members glued or otherwise secured tothe box proper. The particular construction or size of the end flaps isimmaterial provided they afford an anchorage for the wrapper and areable to properly close the box ends.

The box 2 is customarily made from a blank, as shown in Fig. 9, which,when assembled to rectangular form,,may be secured by the longitudinallyextending corner strip 18, shown in Fig. 5, or by gluing together theoverlapping edges, as at 20in Fig. 6.

Whether the box be assembled in advance of the application of the outerwrap or whether the box and the outer wrap are assembled simultaneouslyis immaterial so long as the final form constitutes the inner foundationbox plus the outer wrap secured thereto in such a manner that the wrapis free to shift circumferentially a suitable amount at the edges of thebox as it is erected or collapsed before packing.

This construction may be observed in Figs. 1, 2, and 9 in which theouter wrap is secured to the box at the end flaps l4 and It so that thewrap will be free to shift circumferentially a lim- -ited amount aboutthe box as the latter is moved from knockdown to assembled form, or viceversa. I further contemplate that myouter wrapper may be secured to thebox so as to be relatively immoveable with respect to any one of thesides of the box, but moveable slightly with respect to the other sidesso that there will be no binding or puckering at the edges as the box iserected or collapsed.

This is a very important feature, for if the box and outer wrap are togive the appearance of a box wrapped in the ordinary manner, it isessential that there be no binding at the edges between the wrap andbox. By securing the box and wrap together only at the end flaps or toone side only, it is possible to provide a unit which may be freelyhandled, assembled, filled with merchandise and closed without the wrapbecoming misplaced in any Way and at the same time to give a resultingpackage with the appearance of a box wrapped in the usual manner.

After the box 2 with the outer wrap 4 has been constructed in either themanner shown in Figs. 7 and 8 or 9 and has been assembled ready for use,as shown in Fig. 1, it may be filled with merchandise and the end flapsl4 and Hi, to which the overlying wrap portions l5 and I! have beensecured, as by gluing, swung downwardly to the position shown by endflap M in Fig. 2. Thereafter the diagonal side parts 28 and 22 of theouter wrap are folded inwardly in the usual manner and the remainingportion 24 of the wrap folded up to the position shown in Fig. 3, thusgiving an end closure of the exact appearance of a box wrapped in theordinary manner.

When the box is in knockdown form, as shown in Fig. 12, the wrap 4 makesan acute angle at 26 and an obtuse angle at 28. When the box is shiftedto assembled position so that the sides 6, 8, l and 12 form right-anglesat 26 and 28, it is apparent that the wrap 4 must be free to shiftcircumferentially with respect to the box if the proper condition at theedges is to be maintained. That is to say, if the outer wrap were gluedsmoothly to the four sides of the box when in knockdown condition, uponassembly to usable form the wrapwould pucker at edge 26 and be stretchedpossibly to the breaking point at edge 28. Thus, by the constructionthat I employ, whereby the wrap is secured against movement with respectto one side only, either by attachment to the end flaps or to the sidein question, adjustment may take place between the box and wrap so thatthe appearance of the separately wrapped box is maintained.

In securing the outer wrap to the end flaps it is relatively immaterialwhether the entire flap be glued to the wrap or whether it be glued onlyin part. It is merely necessary that there be sufiicient securing meansbetween. the two to prevent the wrap from sliding longitudinally off thebox and at the same time be so connected that when the end flap isfolded to position, it will carry the wrap with it. Other means forholding the wrap to the flaps could be used, as, for example, bystapling.

In the ordinary case I contemplate having the end flaps l4 and H atopposite ends of one of the four sides of the box, as this facilitatesthe ease with which the wrap may shift the necessary amountcircumferentially about the edges of the box as it is erected fromknockdown to assembled position. If desired, the end flaps to whichthewrap is connected may be associated with different sides of the box,provided the connection is such that there will still be enough playbetween the wrap and box to give the desired result. However, I do notconsider this form as desirable, as it requires reversal of the boxduring the wrapping operation.

When the wrap is prepared, as in Fig. 8, for application to the box, thewrap may be overlapped and secured by gluing or the like, as at 30 inFig. 8, or the overlapping may be along the center of one of the mainsides, as at 32 in Fig. 3. In any event, however, the overlapping edgesof the wrap are so connected that the freedom of movement on the box isnot affected. I further contemplate that where the overlapped portion ofthe wrap is glued, as at 30 and 32, it shall be done in such a way thatthe glued condition will not be noticeable to the average person.

When the box and wrap, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, are assembled, thefollowing procedure is followed. The box 2 is formed, as customary inthis work, over a blank of exact dimensions and secured togetherpreferably along one edge, as shown in Fig. 5 or 6, to produce a box ofthe type shown in Fig. '7. The outer wrap 4 is also formed to shape overa blank the size of the box that it is to cover, being secured at theoverlap, as at 30 and 32 as shown in Figs. 8 and 3 respectively.

Having thus prepared the box and covering wrap, the two are then slidtogether, the wrap over the box, and upon reaching the proper positionthe end flaps of the box, to which glue or other adhesive material hasbeen previously applied, are pressed firmly against the overlying wrapat those areas; thus the wrap is firmly secured in position so that itcannot shift with respect to the end flaps, or longitudinally of thebox, but at the same time the box may be folded to knockdown position orerected to size with perfect freedom.

The other method I use in assembling my box is to prepare the box blank,scored or creased at 34, 38 and 38, as shown in Fig. 9, so that it maybe readily formed. I then bring into overlying or underlying position,as the case may be, a sheet of the wrap 4 that is to be used therewith,which sheet has been previously out to the proper size. The end flaps l4and lb of the box, which, as stated before, may be either integral withthe box blank itself or additional pieces secured thereto, are coatedwith adhesive 40 of any suitable type, which coating operation may havebeen performed either before or after the Wrap has been brought inproximity. The wrap and end flaps are then pressed together with theresult that the wrap is secured in fixed relation to the box by means ofthe adhesive.

While the outer wrap is customarily secured to the box by some form ofadhesive, it is also contemplated that any other suitable means ofattachment may be used, as, for example, by mechanical means such asstapling, slotting of the end flaps to receive suitably prepared edgesof the outer wrap or by any other convenient method or means of securingthe two together.

Thereafter the box blank and wrap may be shaped together over a form ofthe size required, the meeting longitudinal edges of the box beingsecured in any suitable fashion, as at l8 or 20 in Figs. 5 and 6, andthe overlapping edges of the wrap may also be made 'fast to each other,as at 30 or 32 in Figs. 8 and 3.

In addition to the construction already described in which the outerwrap is prevented from shifting longitudinally with respect to the boxby attachment to the end flaps, I also contemplate that in certain casesthe outer wrap may be held in proper longitudinal position by frictionalengagement with the box rather than by actual fixed attachment thereto.

Thus, when the box has been assembled to the form shown in Fig. 1, byvirtue of assembly from the condition shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the outerwrap 4 may be maintained in longitudinal and circumferential position inthe box by virtue of a very close fit between the two. I have found thatwhen so constructed the box may be collapsed or erected withoutsubjecting the corners of the wrap to unnecessary strain as thefrictional engagement between the box and the wrap allows a sufiicientcircumferential movement by the wrap with respect to the box as thelatter is erected.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be apparent thatI have provided a pre wrapped collapsible box in which the wrap isprevented from shifting longitudinally out of position either by directanchorage to the flaps or one side or by frictional engagementtherewith.

Under either circumstance the construction is such that a clerk in usingthe box will know at once the procedure that must be followed tocomplete the closure. After merchandise has been placed in the box theoperator will naturally fold the end flaps down into position, as shownin Fig. 2 and in so doing the material 15 of the wrap overlying the endflap M will be folded into proper position, and this will be truewhether the wrap is glued or otherwise afiixed to the end flap orwhether the outer wrap is merely secured frictionally,

Havin folded the end flap to the position of Fig. 2, it is apparent atonce what procedure must be followed to complete the closure to bring itto the final form as shown in Fig. 3, at which time it may bepermanently secured by any of the commonly used means, as, for example,string, ribbon, or glued tape or stickers.

From the disclosure herein given it is believed apparent that thedimensions, proportions, or number of sides of my box may be varied atwill,

as the principle involved is applicable to all containers of thisgeneral construction.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I donot intend to be limited thereby, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A box comprising a tubular member formed of a plurality of hingedlyconnected walls folded upon themselves to form a collapsed carton, asingle end flap at each end of said carton, both of said end flapsformed from separate pieces of carton material and secured in overlappinrelation to opposite ends of the same carton wall, an outer tubular wrapextending completely and continuously around said tubular member andbeyond the ends thereof to a distance sufficient to cover at least amajority of the area of both end flaps but not beyond the ends of saidend flaps, said wrap being secured to said carton at said end flaps onlywhereby upon erection of said box and closure of said end flap the firstoperation in the closure of the extending portion of said wrap will beperformed simultaneously, said outer wrap being free from said cartonwalls so that said carton may be erected or collapsed without causingany strain or puckering of the wrap at the carton corners.

2. A box comprising a tubular member formed of a, plurality of hingedlyconnected walls folded upon themselves to form a collapsed carton, anend flap at each end of said carton, each end flap formed from aseparate piece of carton material and secured in overlapping relation tothe end of the wall to which it is attached, an outer tubular wrapextending completely and continuously around said tubular member andbeyond the ends of the connected walls a distance sufficient to cover atleast a majority of the area of each end flap as it lies in extendedposition with respect to the side to which it is connected, said wrapbeing secured to said carton at said end flaps whereby upon erection ofsaid box the closure of each end flap will result in the simultaneousmovement of the portion of said wrap that overlies said flap, said outerwrap being sufficiently free from said carton walls so that said cartonmay be erected or collapsed without causing any strain or puckering ofthe wrap at the hingedly connected edges of thecarton walls.

WILLIAM H. PERRY.

